“The Bachelor” Premieres with Elimination of Seven Women

ABC/KEVIN FOLEY(LOS ANGELES) — The search for new “Bachelor” Sean Lowe’s soul mate began Monday night on ABC. He met a total of 26 women, seven of whom were eliminated by the time the first rose ceremony had concluded.

Lowe — a 28-year-old business entrepreneur from Dallas — prepped for the competition by seeking the advice of an old friend: Arie Luyendyk Jr., one of his rivals for Emily Maynard’s affection on the most recent season of The Bachelorette.

Lowe greeted each contestant one by one in front of the Bachelor mansion. The most interesting ladies were:

— Kelly, a 28-year-old cruise ship entertainer from Nashville, who sang an original tune that detailed her belief she belongs with Sean. A sample lyric: “I really hope love grows, we won’t find out unless you give me a rose.”

— Lesley M., a 25-year-old political consultant from Washington, D.C., brought a football with her and had Sean hike it to her.

— Lindsay, a 24-year-old substitute teacher from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, arrived in a wedding dress and immediately kissed him. She explained to him that she wanted to show him her goofy side.

In a surprise twist, Kacie B. from Ben Flajnik’s Bachelor season entered the fray as the mysterious 26th contestant.

Sean made the unusual decision to present a rose to Tierra, a 24-year-old leasing consultant from Denver, immediately after their introduction. Several other women also received a rose prior to the rose ceremony, including Sarah, a 26-year-old advertising executive from Los Angeles who was born with one arm.

Ashley P., a 28-year-old hairstylist from Michigan, didn’t endear herself to the others — or to Sean, as it turned out — by dancing provocatively with a tie in the mansion while apparently drunk. She also told Sean that she called her mom after he was rejected on The Bachelorette to declare that she would marry him one day.

Among the ladies who were sent home during the rose ceremony were Ashley P., Kelly, Lauren, Paige and Ashley H.